British entrepreneur of famous food brands bids an emotional goodbye to India in a viral LinkedIn post; See inside

Goodbyes are rarely easy, especially when you're leaving a place that has become more than just a stop on life’s journey. Moments like these are emotional, nostalgic, and often full of gratitude. And when someone has spent years building not only a business but also a bond with a country, that goodbye becomes all the more meaningful.

India has a way of leaving a deep impression on those who live and work here. With all its energy, warmth, and challenges, it’s not just a place, it’s an experience. Many people who come from abroad, expecting a short stay, often find themselves unexpectedly rooted. Be it the people, the culture, or the unpredictable positivity of daily life, something keeps them connected.

Recently, a British entrepreneur who spent more than a decade in India shared his reflections on LinkedIn before returning to England with his family. What stood out wasn’t just the business impact he made, but the genuine respect and love he developed for the country.

After spending 12 years in India, British entrepreneur Jasper Reid , Founder and CEO of International Market Management (IMM), shared a moving post on LinkedIn as he prepared to return to England with his family.

“More than the three years we planned and just about enough to know how India works,” Reid wrote, summarising his long stay in a single sentence.

Reid originally came to India on a short-term plan, but ended up staying much longer. During his time here, he played an important role in bringing PizzaExpress to India, and later helped launch Wendy’s and Jamie’s restaurants in 15 cities and 75 locations, creating thousands of jobs and making a lasting impact on India’s food and hospitality sector .

Reflecting on the experience, Reid said, “What did we learn? Above all, we learnt patience, resilience, hard work, and hospitality. These values have declined in many countries, but are alive and well in India... Our privilege was to learn the market ground up, brick by brick, and over a long time. There is no substitute if you aim to succeed here.”



His post also touched on the human side of their journey. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Reid and his team stepped up in a big way. “We fed and helped a million people and bused thousands of migrant workers home,” he shared.

Describing India, Reid wrote, “At any time, India is rich in humanity, excitement, and challenge, but also intensely demanding, hard, and wearing. There’s no country like it, and if GDP were measured in souls, India wins. We love India truly, madly and deeply.”

He also had advice for Indian business owners, “Set your people free. It’s the best thing you will ever do.” According to Reid, empowering and trusting teams was key to his success here.

Reid’s family connection to India goes way back, as his grandfather helped build Kolkata’s Dum Dum Airport, his father worked with HelpAge India, and his wife’s uncle founded a school in Sikkim. His daughters, the fourth generation to live in India, have now finished school in Delhi.

Even as they move back, Reid wrote, “Now we have two parental homes and are not really leaving India but moving to the other side of a great, glorious, magic circle.”